The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-08-21
SOME NEW BOOKa
den. Ciuserets Memoir--Ths Truth Absut
the Paris Conmune.
FIRST ARTICLE.


the Paris Conamune.
FIRST ARTICLE.
They who have wished to form q right
conception OF ono Of the most remarkable pop
ular uprisinas OF the century-the revolution
airy movement which evoked tho Paris Com
mune-have hitherto had to rely almost oxclu-
sively on the reports OF Its enemies. The most
rrotcntious and elaborate account OF the strug-
gio for municipal self-govcrnment-for SUCH
tho instruction was In the minds OF most OF
its aupporters-was contributed some years
ago by VI. Maxine Du Camp to tho Rsrue des
Lp,Lr MInies, and was subsequently published
In book form. For those who know something
OF the influences that control the medium OF
publication. 1t Ia needless to say that tho mar
rative. while affecting in some sort Impair
TALLY, was pervaded with reactionary preju-
dco and rancor. Perhaps the time has
not yet come for veracious history
OF tho Paris Commune. yet 1t must DO drawing
near. now that the city municipal Government
is largely made up OF the children OF the friends
OF those Who sixteen years ago, tried to base
the French republic not upon the rotten
framework OF Jacobin Capitalization. but
upon the sole unshakable foundation OF local
liberties No American needs to be told
that home rule means township rule. And
when 1t Ia once clearly understood In this
country that what the monarchist majority OF
the Versailles Assembly tried to crush. and,
after two months incessant lighting. succeeded
In crushing. was an organized attempt to trans
plant into France the vital germ OF American
Institutions, the story OF the Paris Commune
will DO more intoigently and alphabetically
studied
Meanwhile q document OF indlsputable value
to the future historian OF an upheaval, frauRht
with deep significance to France, and likely.
~ al. 1T NhA ttp,Aa Ialo n
strangely. to be renewed. Is furnished by
man who did more than any other to make
the Communal revolution success. Con.
Cluseret did for tho Paris Commune during
the month Of April. 1s7l-the first half OF the
Instructions short career-what Gen. McCle-
Ian did for tho Union In the months devoted 20
the organization Of the Army OF tho Potomac
after the battle OF Bull Run. He gave the
Commune an army he caused the German IN
vaders to maintain respectful impartiality;
he assured tho regular and full provis-
ioning OF Paris: and until he was thrust
out OF office by incompetent successors,
tho city remained IMPROBABLE to the con-
slant assaults Of tho Versaillist forces. No sur
vivor OF the second siege OF Paris Is SO well
qualified to describe 1t, and we fortunately
have In tho two Volumes which he has Just
published Hjmories du G5n5ral Ctusera
e vols Paris, Jules Levy}-an account set
hA off ha 70 ad
AZ. -. -, .hi. hoo,, h,,,no ho., ,,r;,,,n ~
Geneva in 1912. when the authors recollec-
tons were still vivid. We purpose at'this time
to mark one OF the main points in the nrst
mart OF his narrative. which deals with his per.
sonal share in the defence of Paris from April
4 1871. tho date OF his actual entrance upon
the functions of Ds,epate for War. to April so.
the dnss o. his arrest through the intrigues Of
his suppanters.
or nil the incIdents of the second siege OF
Paris there are few so noteworthy as the
interview between Gen. Cluseret and Baron
Holstein. deputed for the purposs by Prince
Bismarck. The Paris Commune was able and
willing, in return for certain concessions. to
nav tho lrst installment of the war indemnity
Is,OlOOo oOo,. which the Versatile. Government
had bsen as vet unable to procure. It was. at
ali events of naramonnt imnor,ance tn obtain
from the Germans then encamped on one side
of paris n nromise Of complots peutraIity
MANY features Of thi, interyiew. of which wa
now for the 6rst tim, have a Trustworthy ac-
count. deserve to be reproduced in outline. be-
onu.s tb.v exhibit Cluser.t,s view of tn. alma
and nrospects Of tho Communal revolution at
a time when It seemed capabls of withstanding
ali assaults on tho mart of tho Versailles forcss,
II l. Also only INST To clear IN, author from tn,
outs,t Of nnv re.non ,ibility for the Infamous
and imbecile massacrs OF Archbishop Darboy
and the ,mnrisoned nrie.,s
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